Leandra’s Law

Leandra’s Law

New York is one of 36 states in the nation with special child endangerment laws that impose tougher sanctions on individuals who place a child passenger at risk while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The Child Passenger Protection Act, known as Leandra’s Law, has been on the books since Dec. 18, 2009. Governor Paterson’s press release.

The law is named in memory of 11-year-old Leandra Rosado, who was killed when an SUV she and seven other children were riding in crashed on the Henry Hudson Parkway in Manhattan in October 2009. Leandra was the only person to die in the crash; her father championed the law. The driver of the SUV – the mother of a friend of Leandra’s – is facing a manslaughter charge.

The final Leandra’s Law provision takes effect Sunday, Aug. 15, 2010. Under the provision:

Courts must order all drivers convicted of misdemeanor and felony drunk driving charges – even first-time offenders and regardless of whether a child under 16 was in the vehicle at the time – to install and maintain ignition interlock devices on any vehicles they own or operate for at least six months at their own expense, in addition to any other terms of sentence.